Author: David Shama

David Shama is a former sports editor and columnist with local publications. His writing and reporting experiences include covering the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Gophers. Shama’s career experiences also include sports marketing. He is the former Marketing Director of the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. He is also the former Marketing Director of the United States Tennis Association’s Northern Section. A native of Minneapolis, Shama has been part of the community his entire life. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he majored in journalism. He also has a Master’s degree in education from the University of St. Thomas. He was a member of the Governor’s NBA’s Task Force to help create interest in bringing pro basketball to town in the 1980s.

Worth Noting

Posted on September 12, 2011October 9, 2011 by David Shama

The average NFL franchise is now worth $1.04 billion, according to Forbes.com. In its latest valuation of franchises, the magazine ranks the Vikings 28^th among 32 clubs at a value of $796 million. That value would increase dramatically with approval of a new stadium in Minnesota or relocation to Los Angeles.

Former Gophers and Vikings assistant coach Tony Dungy said Thursday night on NBC’s Green Bay-New Orleans game if he were starting a team he would choose the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers ahead of any quarterback in the NFL.

Enduring image from that game: Saints QB Drew Brees joining in the singing of the National Anthem while other players stood in silence.

The September 5 issue of Sports Illustrated reported that if Dungy had become president of the Seattle Seahawks, his first choice for coach was Leslie Frazier of the Vikings.

Former Gophers administrator McKinley Boston, who has been athletics director at New Mexico State since December of 2004, was elated with Saturday’s upset by the Aggies over Minnesota. He described the win as the biggest, “not even close,” during his time in Las Cruces. “We’ve been looking for that signature win. …I can see us having a great season based on this,” Boston said.

The Aggies are 6-21 in their last 27 games, but 1-1 so far this season and Boston was optimistic about his team earlier in the summer, although the Western Athletic Conference coaches poll projected a last place league finish for New Mexico State.

The Gophers athletic department gave away 7,000 free vouchers to University of Minnesota freshmen for Saturday’s game but the 10,000 seat student section still didn’t fill up at TCF Bank Stadium.

Athletic department marketing executive Jason LaFrenz said the student sale so far totals about 5,700. He hopes it will reach “8,000 to 10,000.” The Nebraska and North Dakota State games are sold out except for seats being held for sale to students, he said.

Gophers’ athletic director Joel Maturi meets with Dr. Eric Kaler this week, only the second time the two have met since the new University president assumed his duties on July 1.

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Twins Museum Talk & Other Notes

Posted on September 12, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Clyde Doepner, the only full-time curator employed by a major league baseball team, said there’s a possibility of opening a Twins museum. Club management has discussed a possible museum and perhaps locating it in the Ford Centre, the historic office building located near Target Field.

Doepner has been collecting Twins memorabilia dating back to when the ball club played at Met Stadium. He has more than 7,000 memorabilia items in his personal collection, including not only Twins items but also from the franchise’s days in Washington, D.C.

The former high school teacher and baseball coach was hired two years ago as the franchise prepared for its opening of Target Field in 2010. He credits team president Dave St. Peter with his hiring. St. Peter and other club leaders wanted Target Field to be a place that told the history of baseball in Minneapolis-St. Paul including the Twins.

Although Doepner has collected items ranging from the autographs of U.S. presidents to a Twins jersey that incorrectly spelled Minnesota, there is a memory he described as more special than anything else. “The day Harmon Killebrew knew my name,” Doepner said.

Call them the “Smash Boys.” Miguel Sano, 18, hit 20 home runs in 267 at bats for the Twins Elizabethton team in the Appalachian Rookie League. Eddie Rosario, 19, hit 21 balls out of the park in 270 at bats for Elizabethton.

Since the July All-Star break Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is hitting .235 in 14 games with no home runs and nine RBI. He has been unable to play since August 28.

The late Angelo Giuliani, a famous Twins scout, is among nine people being inducted into the Saint Thomas Academy Athletic Hall of Fame on September 30.

Glenn Caruso, football coach of nationally ranked St. Thomas, will be the featured speaker at the C.O.R.E.S luncheon on Thursday, November 10. C.O.R.E.S is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.

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Vikings Open Against S.I. Super Bowl Pick Chargers

Posted on September 9, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

The Vikings can use their game against the Chargers on Sunday in San Diego as a first step to show the national media its predictions about them are incorrect. Sports Illustrated pro football authority Peter King predicts the Chargers will play in next February’s Super Bowl, losing 24-20 to Atlanta.

Sports Illustrated is among the national media that implies or states the Vikings − 12-4 two years ago but 6-10 last season ─ are in rebuilding mode. S.I. forecasts the NFC North order of finish as follows: Packers, Lions, Bears and Vikings.

S.I. headlines its Vikings story with this: “The Donovan McNabb gamble could pay off big − or go bust.” Will the 34-year-old quarterback resemble his best seasons in Philly, or replicate more recent performances in Washington?

Sporting News Magazine’s NFL preview offers the same predicted order of finish in the NFC North as S.I., and projects wins and losses for each team. The Packers will finish 15-1, the Lions and Bears 8-8, and the Vikings 5-11, according to Sporting News.

This might be irritating, but ProFootballWeekly.com managing editor Mike Holbrook is preaching the same predicted order in the division as the two magazines. Ditto ESPN radio’s Colin Cowherd.

Critics not only wonder about the quarterback but also the receivers, offensive and defensive lines, and the safeties. That’s a lot of doubt, but if McNabb’s okay, and Adrian Peterson is all-world, and Jared Allen and Chad Greenway lead a revived defense, and Leslie Frazier coaches like Tony Dungy, the Vikings might even surprise themselves. (Whew. That’s a lot of ifs).

Placekicker Ryan Longwell has been with Vikings teams going back to 2006. He thinks the focus of this team in preseason has helped prepare the club for the 16 game regular season schedule that starts Sunday.

“I think we’re all excited. It’s been a different camp for us than the past couple of years in the fact that it’s been quiet and business-like, the way it should be,” Longwell said. “I think for a team like us, with a lot of new pieces, new coaching and players, I think it’s actually what you want. You want to be a little under the radar and be able to work. And that’s what we’ve been able to do. …”

Longwell said NFL observers may see a talent gap between the Packers and Vikings but his locker room doesn’t analyze it that way. “I think the people that pick (forecast) the record, you can’t pick it until it’s all over with,” he said.

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